Check out this fascinating article on a special late ’70’s Chicago West Side Blues night at the much-missed blues bar, Eddie Shaw‘s 1815 Club from Delmark recording artist, guitarist/vocalist/bandleader, DAVE WELD in UK’s premier blues magazine, BLUES & RHYTHM! Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames have a new Delmark Records compilation LP, Bluesin’ Through The Years– also with a standout review in B&R, one of our all-time favourite blues publications!
‘They Raided The Joint’
CHICAGO’S 1815 CLUB
— BY DAVE WELD —
It was early evening, 18th November, 1978. I was going my gig at the New 1815 Club on West Roosevelt on the West Side of Chicago. When I arrived, the club was already packed! Aged sixteen, I was well into my year-long ‘apprentice gig’ every Friday and Saturday with The Wolf Pack, the late Howlin’ Wolf’s band now led by saxman Eddie Shaw following the death of Howlin’ Wolf.
Walking down the broken sidewalk, I had my 1954 CE 100 Guild guitar loaded and ready with the handle of the brown case in my left hand, and the black Polytone cube amp gripped by the handle in my right hand.
The usual crowd was out front: L. C. Robey (a West Side guitarist who had a band called L.C. Robey and The Presidents); Shorty; (aka Lafayette Gilbert or Chickenshack Shorty) who was Eddie Shaw’s long-time bass player; Doug McDonald of the Blue Mirror Band – who played with Buddy Guy, Phil Guy, Arlean Brown, Abb Locke, and Mac Simmons. They were feeding McDonalds food scraps to the skinny tan shorthair dog that lived under the broken sidewalk.
It was that time of day when the sun’s fading rays softened my mood as they formed a day-glow orange circle underneath that fat ruffled grey blanket of clouds which was starting to hide behind the taller buildings on the West Side.
“Hey Dave, I got somethin’ for ya!”, said Doug McDonald as he waved me over. “Here man, that cat’s number” and handed me a crumpled scrap of paper with the name Reggie Boyd with his phone number underneath. “I think he is the type of cat that you could learn a lot from. You know a lot of guys went to him, even the Wolf. He taught the Wolf to read music, even the Wolf!”
Reggie Boyd was a top guitarist, who lived on the South Side and was a session guitar player and arranger who gave guitar lessons to Otis Rush, Willie Johnson, Jimmy Johnson, Louis Myers, Fenton Robinson and many more.
Reggie had made a bundle from one single guitar chord on a soft drinks advert they had aired a lot – and for a long time.
A few weeks later I had driven to see Reggie, who told me that the advert was an open audition, replete with frantic guitarists “trying to show everything they know”. Reggie got the job with one chord, and they all asked him which book he got that chord from? He just laughed and walked out. Of course, a guy like that made his own chords.
At the 1815 Club (or any other blues club on the West or South Side) under the garish Christmas lights (which were kept on all year), the customers threw down their hard-earned money from thankless jobs at minimum wage. I was humbled to help entertain them. I took it all in with an attitude of gratitude.
After seeing the cliquish North Side blues clubs which were closed to a hopeless beginner like me, the West Side seemed wide open! Occasionally there were a couple other white guys – photographers and journalists, but they came and went. I did not know exactly where I wanted to be in life, but this was the place for me until I did.
The night of 18th November, 1978 was a little special. The sign at the door proclaimed we had ‘Shake Dancers’. I set up my guitar and amp stage left, and I saw Eddie ‘Jewtown’ Burks holding court at the bar which was the depth of the entire room, and two or three deep with an after work and Friday night crowd.
“Yea, right there…” Eddie said pointing up on the bar, “when we first opened up! Used to walk that bar right there, playin’ my harp,” He was explaining how he exposed himself for the enjoyment of the crowd. I was glad that Eddie’s show was in the past and not now.
Eddie Shaw leaned in to Burks, saying something in confidence, while handing some wadded bills, and pointing to me. Burks said, “Come on, Dave, let’s ride, we got to make a little run”. Shaw was sending us to the liquor store, because it was going to be a big night. I had no idea how big and how long the night was going to be.
On the way Burks explained our upcoming recording session, which he had invited me to. He had a song, ‘Operator’ about a guy that wanted to disconnect his phone because his woman was always getting calls from her boyfriend. “I’ll sing baby – and you make that train sound with your guitar right after, every time I make that same note with my harp, right?!”
It was a simple move hitting the five on the third string and the seventh on the second string with a little sustain. I said, “Sure, I can do it, just like Sonny Boy’s ‘Bring It On Home’ right?” I thought I was trying to be helpful, but his face fell. Everyone would figure out where he got it from if a green guy like me could spot it so quick!
I also wanted him to watch the road, because it seemed like he was reckless and coming too close to other cars. He didn’t seem drunk and I can’t really say if he was being careless or if he wanted to run into the car beside us, because he seemed to have a deliberate “get out of my way” look. Then he weaved and dented a guy’s door panel. He pulled over to argue, and the other driver got his plate number. Since he was driving Shaw’s car, Burks handed over the liquor money Eddie Shaw had given him, and we were on our way.
Back at the 1815 Club, Shaw was not having any of it and started yelling at Eddie Burks who kept throwing his hands in the air. I left that conversation to go tune up, stage left.
Eddie’s place used to be the Club Alex, and it was a real showpiece, a ‘Home Of The Blues’, where Muddy Waters, Mighty Joe Young, Bobby Rush, Otis Rush and Magic Sam had played.
Howlin’ Wolf had a standing home gig there, which Shaw joined since Eddie Shaw was the unofficial club band leader. On 10th January 1976, Howlin’ Wolf died from kidney failure. Eddie Shaw took over the club and his band – The Wolf Pack. On any given night you could see guests like Hound Dog Taylor, Guitar Junior, Little Wolf, Tail Dragger, Maxwell Street Jimmy, Big Bad Ben, and plenty of lesser-known local blues musicians.
It was also a place where younger guys could come and learn something. I was usually the only white guy in the place, unless a nationally known artist was there – but not on ‘shake dancer night’. I was hiding out stage left blocking out chords, for most all of 1978. The band tonight was Lafayette Gilbert on bass, Chico Chism on drums, Hubert Sumlin and Boston Blackie on guitars, Detroit Junior on keyboards, fronted by Eddie Shaw on sax.
We opened with Jimmy Smith’s instrumental ‘Back At The Chicken Shack’ with solos all the way around, except of course, for me. Eddie Shaw was waiting to come up later as the ‘main attraction’, and where he would welcome onstage the shake dancers. Chico started calling up guests in the house and Maxwell Street Jimmy came up and played a ‘Green Onions’ jam. Chico looked over at me surprised because I was actually holding a good groove with Lafayette Gilbert, and he played his heart out.
Otis Rush was called up, and he looked over at me he said, “Your second string is flat” – and winced, but kindly offering: “I play so much, I just hear”, – but he was still wincing.
After seventy-five minutes of playing Chico Chism welcomed Eddie Shaw to the stage. We lit up ‘Can’t Stop Lovin’ You’ by Shaw and he tore into the song – chorus, for about fifteen minutes. The band started to steal glances at one another with Eddie playing out in the audience.
Eddie had learned a lot from saxman Willis ‘Gator Tail’ Jackson and kept playing hard. Finally, Eddie was done and he did get a great round of applause because he played his ass off. “Now I would like to bring up a young lady who has something really special to show you.” Everyone else seemed to know what, but I didn’t. The lights dimmed a little in anticipation.
As the shake dancers came up, dancing on the floor in front of the stage we played a slow blues, heavy on the backbeat. A shake dancer’s job is to get up and shake to the music, breasts and bottom vibrating, with next to nothing on, except some decorum and a smile. There were three of them, but the featured dancer soon captivated the floor and the other two spread off to the side.
Soon she was bare breasted, leaning back on the front of stage. Her party piece to my amazement, was to insert a cigarette in her ‘nether regions’ drawing out the performance with exaggeration and drama before a plume of smoke was expelled. She repeated the process, but this time she blew out smoke rings. There was not the ringing round of applause that Eddie Shaw got, but more of a silent appreciation with the murmur of approval in a strange form of awe. Then the lights flashed on and the police came through the front door and well-dressed men rose from the audience to flash badges and start directing the arrests.
They had been lying in wait for this moment. Then they started to round everyone up including the band.
Eddie Shaw, Eddie Burks, Detroit Junior and Hubert Sumlin made it through the back door, but they got Boston Blackie, Chico Chism, Shorty Gilbert, the main shake dancer, and me. We found ourselves in an old beat-up paddy wagon heading to the Maxwell Street lockup!
They un-cuffed us at an old-fashioned drunk tank where we waited to be processed. This was a set of chain link cages and out of decorum the men were placed in the cage next to the one female shake dancer. The guys started to flirt with her immediately and it progressed to the point where she actually offered them favours.
There were no officers around and just the glare from a few bare light bulbs hanging in the centre of the room which were offering irritating light. All of us were still giddy from Champale, or in Chico’s case, Mickey’s Malt Liquor poured over ice in a beer glass.
I called it a night and let the haze of the night slip over me as I used my jacket for a pillow and to block the harsh light. I just wanted to go home.
Hours later Eddie Shaw bailed us out. With our papers for the court date, we headed over to the club and Chico was on it like a ferret, checking electrical switches and outlets. I bee-lined to stage left and there was my good old Guild and Polytone Amp. I was lucky as hell!
Weeks later in court we stood there in our church clothes as the judge read the complaint against us. He cracked up laughing! We genuinely made his day when he read “arrested in a house of fornication”. Bang! Case dismissed.
Back at the club things changed. Night by night Shaw started touring a little and bringing his son, Van, to the gigs. Shaw said, “Dave, I got to make a change”, and Van started going on tour with Eddie and I stuck with my day job.
I had no gigs. Weeks later, I made the rounds of some of the clubs a couple blocks away, off the beaten path, but they were a couple steps down in stature from the 1815 and I did not see a future there. So, I turned to a good friend to ease the pain. He had a place to lay low in Harvey, Illinois, with his wife Lulubelle and he offered guitar lessons and good friendship until I came up with a new plan.
That guy was J.B. Hutto, from Augusta, Georgia. I had found the guy that could show me how to play the blues, write songs and be a bandleader.
Dave Weld is a Delmark recording artist, blues musician and a dedicated blues fan. Thanks also to Dick Shurman and Jeff Taylor.
JB Hutto with Hound Dog Taylor and Ted Harvey
NEW RELEASES
DAVE WELD: Bluesin’ Through The Years
Delmark 894 (Vinyl: 43:00)
Don’t Ever Change / Don’t Tell Mama / Red Hot Tabasco / Lookin’ For A Man / May Be Right May Be Wrong / Ramblin’ / Louise / Slip Into A Dream / She’s Lyin’
This is a tasty compilation of tracks culled from Dave’s three previous releases on Delmark: ‘Burnin’ Love’ (2010), ‘Slip Into A Dream’ (2015) and ‘Nightwalk’ (2022).
Dave has an impressive CV – he was mentored by J.B. Hutto and in 1976 he started playing at The 1815 Club on the West Side. This was the old Alex Club that Eddie Shaw reopened as the musical homestead for Howlin’ Wolf and his band. Blues luminaries including Otis Rush, Freddie King, Magic Sam, Muddy Waters and Bobby Rush played there. Wolf died and Shaw took over the band. The band was Hubert Sumlin, Chico Chism, Detroit Junior, Shorty Gilbert, Eddie Shaw, and they let Dave join.
So, let’s have a listen to several tracks. ‘Don’t Ever Change’ kicks off the proceedings; it’s a charging boogie with vocals by Dave. ‘Red Hot Tabasco’ compares red hot tabasco with his lady friend (surprisingly enough!). Personally, I’ve never tasted any kind of tabasco, and sadly never encountered a lady fitting that description.
Monica Myhre is next up on vocals on ‘Lookin’ For A Man’. The lady belts out the blues on this muscular shuffle. Dave supplies the exemplary slide playing, and guest Bobby Rush blows harp. The pace slows for ‘Ramblin’’. Weld’s vocal is given a boost by the addition of Rogers Randle on tenor sax.
Rock & roll pops up on the hard-charging ‘Louise’. Add a squealing sax and backing vocals to Monica’s powerful, lung busting voice and you get a stone classic. ‘She’s Lyin’’ is the closer; Weld is back on vocals, there is that buttery sax again and Weld discards the slide and conjures up a super two chorus. It’s a really nice blues – “sometimes I just wish I could take a bite out of your ass baby”. What can I say!
Got his previous albums? Then you don’t really need this, but if not, it is a top of the range intro. And it’s available in five different colours of vinyl (personally I’d go for the transparent version). However, if you are of a mind, you can collect all five!
— Phil Wight
DaveWeld Bio
MUSICAN/SINGER/SONGWRITER/PRODUCER
Chicago-based veteran blues musician Dave Weld,
one of the few real innovators in the blues realm
Born in Chicago in 1952, Dave was first influenced as a child when he found an old Victrola in the basement and wore out the 78’s blues albums. In high school many listened to the Stones, Clapton and Mayall but Dave traded those records for Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin Hopkins, and BB King. After high school Weld moved to New Mexico to attend New Mexico State University and studied guitar under Kurt Black, a jazz player who worked with Benny Carter, Grant Green and others in the New York jazz scene. During his time at NMSU, he drove to Nevada where he met and jammed with Gatemouth Brown. Weld bought Hound Dog Taylor’s first Alligator album, heard Howlin Wolf over the radio in the desert one night which drove him to pack up and return home in his 67′ Ford. He made it with ten dollars to spare.
As a young musician, Weld found out that the West side of Chicago (the black hood) was friendlier, welcoming him more than the North side. He started sitting in at as many clubs that he could. In 1975, after Hound Dog Taylor died, Weld joined his first band, the Hound Dog Taylor Band, consisting of Brewer Phillips, Ted Harvey. They played at Sweet Peas on 43rd St. for a couple years where Weld developed his chops and experience in playing. There were many shake dancers and fistfights but the blues was the center of his life. The gig ended when Brewer was stabbed in the throat by his wife, but they later reconciled.
In 1976, Weld was found playing at the 1815 Club on W. Roosevelt, owned and operated by Eddie Shaw. At the time Eddie Shaw had the Howlin Wolf’s band, the Wolf Pack which became Weld’s second band. Members of the band where, Hubert Sumlin, Chico Chism, Shorty Gilbert, Detroit Junior, Eddie Shaw and Dave Weld. The 1815 Club was famous for stage guests such as Otis Rush, Jewtown Burke, Maxwell St Jimmy, Little Arthur, Taildragger, Little Wolf, and many more. In 1976 Weld along with Eddie Shaw, Hubert Sumlin, Jewtown Burke, Detroit Junior, Shorty Gilbert became a part of an album called “Chico Chism’s Chicago Blues Party”, released later by Bob Corritore. The going rate at the 1815 Club was $15 per night, but Dave enjoyed his time there, playing with many greats such as Otis Rush, Maxwell St. Jimmy, Guitar Junior, Jew Town Burks, Doug Macdonald, Boston Blackie, Tail Dragger, Little Wolf, Big Bad Ben, Little Arthur, Johnny Littlejohn and many more. The gig ended when the band was taken to the Maxwell St. lockup because of the nude shake dancers. Shaw bailed them out.
Also in 76′ Weld was a part of another album called “Harpin On It” released by John Stedman, JSP Records, UK. During this era, Weld, was also a writer for Living Blues Magazine, where he met J.B. Hutto Grammy winning, Hall of Famer, who became his friend, mentor and teacher, giving him slide guitar lessons and band insight, they met weekly. J.B. Hutto was put on the cover of Living Blues Magazine, in 1976, Issue 30. Hutto later introduced Weld to his nephews Little Ed Williams and Pookie/James Young. The three of them started Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, played all over the West Side of Chicago until they were discovered by Bruce Iglauer from Alligator Records, recording, “Roughousin” album which was released in 1986.
In 1988, Weld started Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames. Recording for Parsifal Records, Belgium, “Roughrockin’ in Chicago” doing tours in EU. His next recording was with Earwig Records in 1997, “Keep on Walkin”, touring USA and EU. His next three recordings were with Delmark Records, “Burning Love”, “Slip into a Dream” and the Grammy nominated album in 2022, “Nightwalk” which was also produced by Tom Hambridge. Weld was also are part of Delmark’s “Tribute” album, featuring several Delmark artist. In 2016 Weld’s album “Slip Into A Dream” was nominated by Blues Blast Magazine for Rock Blues Album of the Year. In 2020 Dave and his band won the Windy City Blues Challenge. In 2021 Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames made the finals in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Weld was nominated Slide player of the year by Blues Blast Magazine as well as Contemporary Blues Album of the Year! In 2022 Dave received two nominations from Blues Blast again, for his ‘Nightwalk” album for Contemporary Blues Album and Slide Guitarist of the Year. Recently his group headlined the Chicago Blues Festival and the Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland. An upcoming vinyl album, “Bluesin’ through the Years” is coming out on Delmark to be released the Summer of 2025.
Dave Weld with the Houserockers: Brewer Phillips on guitar, Ted Harvey on drums
Dave’s first band! Hound Dog Taylor’s group of Brewer Philips and Ted Harvey. (pictured to the left, Dave Weld, guitar, Ted Harvey, drums and Brewer Philips, guitar) They had been working with JB Hutto after Hound Dog’s death, and after they came back from breaking up with JB in Boston, they had a little house gig at Sweet Pea’s when Weld joined the band. Brewer Philips and Ted Harvey are well known because their music started Alligator Records, the world largest blues label. Brewer learned from Memphis Minnie, one of the most famous women in blues history! Their recordings and tours with Hound Dog over 16 years signaled an increase in popularity of the blues
The Garfield, at Homan and Madison, was right around the corner from Ed’s house where many featured artists played Lil Ed and The Blues Imperials stayed there about a year.
Necktie Nates at W Roosevelt was a hotbed of blues and Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials stayed there a year, during which Buster Benton came in to play quite a bit. The gig ended when Nate insulted Pookie’s aunt and James jumped down off the stage to give Nate quite a lesson in manners. About $15 a night, until Bruce Iglauer from Alligator recorded them in a historic session “Roughousin'” and they started world tours.
Boss Joe’s Lounge on W Lake, where the guys made from $7 to $15 depending on the door, which there never was, but it kept Dave, Ed and Pookie playing
In 1976 Dave Weld as a writer for Living Blues Magazine, which changed his life forever, when he met and wrote a story about J.B. Hutto, published Nov-Dec 1976, Issue 30 and rest is history. They became lifelong friends….
JB Hutto’s legendary Delmark LP, HAWK SQUAT!
During this time Weld was under tutelage from JB Hutto, a Grammy awarded Blues Hall of Fame slide man from Georgia. He studied at JB’s house for three years until JB introduced Dave to his nephews, Little Ed and James Young. They started the band “Little Ed and the Blues Imperials” and played every joint in the West side for ten years. About $15 a night, until Bruce Iglauer from Alligator recorded them in a historic session “Roughousin'” (1986) and they started world tours. (Pictured from left to right, Lil Ed, Guitar, Louie Henderson, Drums, Dave Weld, Guitar and (Pookie) James Young, Bass Guitar.
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In 1988 Dave decided to start his own band “Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames” first releasomg in 1988′ “Rough Rockin in Chicago” on Blue Sting Records. This band featured the most authenic seasoned blues veterans in Chicago. Such as Bernard Reed, Bass Guitar, Leo Davis, Piano, Daryl Mahon, Drums, Donny Nichilo, Piano, Mike Scharf, Bass Guitar, Vernon Rogers, Drums and Ted Harvey, Drums. They toured countless times around the world, local and national festivals and the best venues in the Midwest and the national. In 1996, Weld was joined by Lil Ed and together the Imperial Flames released their sophomore album “Keep On Walkin” on the Earwig label. Lil Ed rejoined Dave’s band twice for two years each time and the second time they recorded for Earwig Music, “Keep on Walkin'”, and this brought them overseas again, as well as local, regional, and national gigs. When Ed went back to his band he was replaced by the great Abb Locke, legendary sax man. They continued working every week since the band was formed and Dave made his first UK tour in 2005, with the second to closing slot at the Maryport Blues Festival, going full circle by opening up for Hubert Sumlin and the Legendary Blues Band!
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In 2009-2010 Dave Weld recorded his first Delmark recording “Burnin Love” produced by Bob Koester. Weld featured long time band members, Dave Weld, guitar, Abb Locke, Sax, Jeff Taylor, drums/ vocals, Monica Myhre (Mona Rose) vocals/percussion (first female Imperial Flame), Dave Kaye, bass guitar and Harry Yaseen, piano.
Weld’s second album for Delmark “Slip Into A Dream” received rave reviews. The band consists of Weld, vocals/guitar and slide guitar; Monica Myhre (Mona Rose), vocals/percussion; Harry Yaseen, piano; Jeff Taylor drums/vocals and Dave Kaye, bass. Additional musicians include Graham Guest, keyboards; Bobby Rush, harp, “Sax” Gordon Beadle, tenor and baritone sax. Hank Ford, tenor saxophone, Kenny Anderson, trumpet. The Heard and Greg Guy (Son of Buddy Guy) Guitar on Too Bad So Sad. The album noted for the opening overture. “Slip Into A Dream” is the first of five songs co-written by Weld and his partner Myhre. This is a great tune that breaks from tradition as the chorus has more of a group harmony sound. The contrast is fabulous. “Sweet Rockin Soul” is the appropriately named rave that follows. Addition of vocalist Myhre gives the band an additional dimension and four songs of her own. “Looking For a Man” features Rush on harmonica. The slow blues “Walk On Down” is another favorite. Dave and the band are currently working on a new album for 2019 with current members; Dave Weld on guitar, Mona Rose (Monica Myhre) vocals/percussion, Jeff Taylor drums/vocals, Kenny Pickens bass guitar, Harry Yaseen piano/organ and Dudley Owens and Rogers Randle tenor and baritone sax.
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“NIGHTWALK” IS THE THIRD DELMARK ALBUM FOR DAVE WELD & THE IMPERIAL FLAMES. Deepening on the furrows opened by “Burnin’ Love” and “Slip Into a Dream”, Dave, Monica, and their band weave an original tapestry of pure Chicago blues tradition with a forward-looking sound and energy. The band consists of Weld, vocals/guitar and slide guitar; Monica Myhre, vocals/percussion, Harry Yaseen, piano, Jeff Taylor drums/vocals, Kenny Pickens, bass and Rogers Randle Jr, tenor sax. Additional musicians include Graham Guest, piano/keyboards; Billy Branch, harp, “Sax” Gordon Beadle, tenor and baritone sax. Hank Ford, tenor saxophone, Kenny Anderson, trumpet and Tony Carpenter, percussion. Bringing along the beauty of the tradition he learned next to Chicago blues stalwart J.B. Hutto, Dave Weld is one of the few real innovators in the blues realm of today. His song “Mary Who” is an authentic tour de force, a vivid portrait of urban life where Dave Weld shows his metal as storyteller. Moreover, in every single track of this ground-breaking album we can relate to the vibrations of contemporary life blowing like a fresh breeze from the depths of a well-rooted sonority. The album was recorded at Joyride Studio, mixed at The Switchyard Studio in Nashville, produced by Tom Hambridge and post-produced at Delmark Records Riverside Studio by Elbio Barilari and Julia A. Miller, who was also the album’s mastering engineer.
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Dave Weld’s fourth Delmark Album “Bluesin’ Through The Years” is a compilation album from 3 albums by the band; Burnin’ Love (2010), Slip into A Dream (2015) and Nightwalk (2022) Dave Weld and Monica Myhre take turns on vocals, with Dave leading the way on guitar and slide guitar. Special guests on the record include Bobby Rush on Harp, Lil’ Ed on Rythm Guitar, Abb Locke on Alto Sax, Sax Gordon on Alto and Baritone Sax and Tom Hambridge on Drums.
https://www.daveweld.com/dave-weld-bio
Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames
Through The Years
WINDY CITY BLUES CHALLENGE
CHICAGO BLUES CHALLENGE
CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL
MAIN STAGE 2023
CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL
ROSA’S STAGE (SATURDAY) 2023
CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL THROUGH THE YEARS
DAVE WELD & LIL ED – MAIN STAGE
JOLIET HISTORICAL MUSEUM
BAND HISTORY
Since 1975
Weld’s first band photo with “Little Ed and the Blues Imperials“. Weld picked up Pookie James Young and Ed and during the Winter months they braved the hawk and hung these posters up and down Welles St. so they could make the big money, $25. Welds first real band, “Little Ed and the Blues Imperials”, which Dave, Ed and Pookie started using a number of drummers, until they located Louie Henderson, all of them shown here in thieir first band shot, with Ed borrowing a tie from Dave for the session.
This first professional band shot of Dave with Little Ed and the Blues Imperials was shot behind Alligator Records in the alley. Somone made the comment about a band member having bugs and everyone cracked up!
“Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames” first gig and band shot, playing at Sams Saloon on Belmont, in the room that was a speakeasy during prohibition. Dave got drummer Louie, from Little Ed and the Blues Imperials, bass, Mike Scharf, and Harry Yaseen on piano. Harry studied under the great legend, Art Hodes, and came to sit in one night and played piano until his fingers bled.
This second shot of the Flames was taken at Uncle Steve’s, on Welles St., where John Belushi and second city crew used to come in. Mike Scharf, Harry Yaseen, Dave and the great Ted Harvey, who along with Brewer Phillips, and Hound Dog Taylor help start Alligator Records. Ted was in the band about four years.
The third band shot was in front of a club on Fullerton, and featured Dave, Mike Scharf, Donny Nichilo, piano, harp, Vernon Rodgers, Drums. Donny had just finished four years with Buddy Guy, and spent four years with the Flames, and then went on to work with the Mighty Blue Kings, Floyd McDaniels, and many others. He resides in Brazil with his wife and child. Vernon was with the band four years and was a regular on Chicago’s blues circuit, with Phil Guy, his wife Gloria Thompson, and many others.
This fourth band shot was taken at Blues Ect. on Belmont, and featured Dave, Vernon Rodgers, Herman Applewhite, and Jasper Buchanan. Herman, from Clarksdale MS was the original bass man for the Buddy Guy/Junior Wells band that toured the world in the late 60’s, early 70’s, and he also worked with Koko Taylor, Eddy Clearwater, Fenton Robinson, and many others. Jasper is from Tchula MS, plays piano and sings, and worked with OV Wright, and leads his own band out of Milwaukee, WI.
This fifth picture of the Imperial Flames features Dave, Bernard Reed, bass, Daryl Mahon, drums and Leo Davis, keys. Bernard has the most extensive history and ranks as a historical figure in Chicago Soul. During the 70’s he was studio staff for Brunswick records and toured, recorded with Tyrone Davis, Ramsey Lewis, Percy Mayfield, Howlin Wolf, Little Milton, Jackie Wilson, Lou Rawls, Otis Clay, Little Richard, so many others. Darryl was with Mighty Joe Young and on the Chicago Blues circuit. Leo Davis was with Mighty Joe Young, James Cotton, Eddy Clearwater, many more, and was with the band about four years.
Little Ed and Dave always stayed close and Ed joined the band replacing Leo Davis. Ed had joined the band previously for two years during which they recorded Daves first CD “Roughrockin in Chicago”. This time they recorde for Earwig Music, “Keep on Walkin'” and this was a promo shot for the CD. Little Ed and Dave did many duo gigs together to fill in dates, and they had lots of fun, and used this duo shot to get work! Ed played the kick drum and they did songs that they would eventually use with the band or record.
This sixth band picture was taken at Chicago’s House of Blues, and features Bernard Reed, Jeff Taylor, Abb Locke, and Dave. Abb Locke may be the most legendary of them all, having played and recorded with Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Willie Mabon, Buddy Guy, Magic Sam, Otis Rush, Elmore James, Earl Hooker, The Rolling Stones, and many more. He is featured in Howling Wolf‘s biography and has his own book, which will be coming out, about his life in Chicago Blues, and he has a CD with great original songs, “Big City Blues”
The seventh band picture taken at SPACE in Evanston, long time band members Abb Locke, (died Sept 2018) legendary saxman. Jeff Taylor, drums and vocals, added to the mix, his first female diva Mona Rose (Monica Myhre (Garcia) vocals and percussion and Dave Kaye bass.
The eighth and current band members: Mona Rose (Monica Myhre) lead vocals/percussion, Jeff Taylor drums/vocals, Harry Yaseen piano/organ, Kenny Pickens bass guitar, and Rogers Randle, Jr. alto and baritone sax. Currently touring throughout the United States and abroad. Look for their upcoming 2020 album!
Winners of the Chicago Blues Challenge 2020!
Congratulations to Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames who won the 2019 Windy City Blues Society Blues Challenge. The band was honored to represent Chicago at the 2020 IBC’s in Memphis where they became one of the finalist out of over 200 bands from around the world!
